Nick Tepesch said he will try to make his major league debut Tuesday seem just like any other start. Tampa Bay will make every attempt to make it last a lifetime.

Rays manager Joe Maddon indicated his team, which led the AL in walks received last year, will be extremely patient against Tepesch on whom his hitters have little in the way of information.

"We can't expand our strike zone," Maddon said. "When you're facing a guy you haven't seen, you have to make him earn every out he gets. I've always believed that is the way to go about it."

Tepesch did not walk anybody in five innings in his 77-pitch tuneup for Triple-A Round Rock on Thursday. Last year, he allowed 44 walks in 162 minor league innings, an average of 2.44 per nine innings.

The Rangers were not expected to make the official transaction to call Tepesch up until Tuesday afternoon. The club is trying to deal outfielder Julio Borbon to create space for Tepesch, but will have to designate him for assignment if no deal is completed. It would give the Rangers 10 days to trade him or place him on waivers. Borbon is not expected to clear waivers.